WASHINGTON — President Trump announced his intention today to nominate Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert L. Wilkie Jr. to become the new VA secretary.

The son of a career Army officer, Wilkie is a lawyer by profession with extensive national security experience in both the legislative and executive branches of government. He is a former Navy Reserve intelligence officer and current Air Force Reserve officer. He also has the extremely important position as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Prior to his Pentagon position he served as a senior advisor to U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

“When confirmed, Wilkie will bring to the position a knowledge of Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the VA, which will be important as VA continues to work closely with the Defense Department’s electronic health record initiative and with transitioning service members,” said Keith Harman, national commander of the 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary. “The VFW wishes him well through the new confirmation process, and we look forward to working with him to better the health care programs and services our nation provides to wounded, ill and injured veterans and their families.”